I prefer to use my blog and my social media to be comical, weird and a little-too-self-indulgent. I prefer to tell jokes and stories and occasional bits of fiction, rather than wax philosophically about politics or religion or justice. And yet ... And yet, I feel compelled to chirp out a few thoughts on all of those "deep" topics right now. In the midst of some very heavy headlines, I'm feeling a burden to use my words to speak truth and love in place of my usual comical programming. Be … [Read more...]
Breaking the Rules by Loving My Body
Originally posted at SheLoves Magazine. We picked the coldest day of the summer to go to the beach. But I was going to wear a swimsuit anyway. Because hello? the beach. But also because I love my swimsuit. I texted this to a friend followed by, “I think girls aren’t allowed to love a swimsuit. There’s a rule about that somewhere … there’s a rule that girls should hate their bodies.” But I’m a rule breaker. My body is lumpy and squishy and short and doesn’t look good in red and … [Read more...]
Sanding, Sanding, Sanding and Broken Tools
Sanding. Oy. My tiny trailer for my tiny house is really NOT that tiny. Not in terms of HOW MUCH SANDING NEEDS TO BE DONE. You see, I bought my trailer used. She's 16 years old. She's been the foundation for a mobile office (like the kind you see on large construction sites) and for the past decade she's hauled freight from dock to dock by a very sweet old man whose name entirely escapes me right now. (I'm sad about that, because remembering people is sort of one of my gifts.) Anyway, … [Read more...]
Speaking Norwegian and Buying Insulation
Three days after bringing my beautiful trailer home to my sister's driveway (where I can see it from my current bedroom window) I bought some insulation. I don't even have a frame yet, but I have a whole lot of insulation. Here's how it goes down: Gardening with my sister (read: my sister is gardening. I am probably making a mess with dirt). She checks her phone and sees that a friend was selling a bunch of doors and lumber and other bits and parts for building projects. So we head over to … [Read more...]
Sacred Space and a Latte
{ Originally posted at SheLoves Magazine } I want to be a writer when I grow up. But that would mean really taking the time to write. Novel concept, eh? *pun intended* In the meantime, I work at a little café for just a wee bit more than minimum wage. Sometimes it’s exhausting. Sometimes it’s hard to juggle my day job as a barista and my freelance graphic design gigs and trying to Be A Writer and getting photos and widgets ready right here on the SheLoves blog and nannying and all my … [Read more...]
If We Are The Body, I Might Be a Thumb
Originally posted at SheLoves Magazine. I’m not a “kid person.” I love children. I love treating them like the tiny humans that they are. I love asking them what’s going on in their wild, unfettered imaginations. Heck, I even agreed to skateboard with Idelette’s 6-year-old last month (turns out, a decade later, I’ve still got some skills). But… I’m not the person who walks into a room and looks for a baby to pick up. I’m not the woman who considered teaching elementary school as … [Read more...]
hair and regret.
She-who-will-remain-nameless: "Wow, your hair is ... different." Me: "Yep! Like it?" SWWRN: "Um, it's ... unique. It's kind of the thing right now." Me: "Yep." (I'm smiling because I know she is afraid to say she hates it.) SWWRN: "What will you think about that haircut in thirty years? Don't you think you'll look back and think, 'wow, 2014 was weird' and kind of regret it?" I'm not actually sure I responded to this. I might have feigned amusement and changed the subject. What I am sure … [Read more...]
900 miles in 8 days.
On Saturday night I fell asleep in the only clean clothes I still have, half a text message drafted, a full cup of tea on the night stand. But it was in my bed—where I am almost positive my memory foam loves me just as much as I love it. In eight days I hadn't slept in the same house any two consecutive days. I traveled more than 900 miles in that time, but never made it more than 150 miles away from my house. I worked three different jobs and comforted half a dozen miniature … [Read more...]
Happy Birthday, Joslyn Tiny House!
That's right, she's here! My very own foundation for the home-on-wheels I'll be building for the next year or two. You know how I know she's a she? She's stunning and sturdy. She isn't afraid of hard work and carrying a heavy load for those she cares for. She's glorious. She might need a name. But for now, Instagram knows her as #joslyntinyhouse. I spent ALL MY MONEY. No for real, all of it. And I have never been happier! Stalked this trailer on Craigslist for a couple months. I saw the … [Read more...]
Tools! And a Round of Applause
This year I've learned how much community matters. I've learned how incredibly generous people can be when you share your dreams with them. My coworker at the cafe, Tony, was listening to me ramble about all the things I plan to do when I start building my tiny house and he interrupted my wild soliloquy, "Hey, I've got a ton of tools in my garage that you can have if you need." I looked over at him. "Really?" "Oh yeah, I've collected all kinds of things from the property maintenance … [Read more...]
What I Learned.
I know I said I hate lists a couple blog posts ago. But I lied. And then I wrote a list. Here's what I've learned this week: 1. I'm a hot mess. No for real though. I leap before I look. I channel Peter and just step out of that darn boat and then I TOTALLY FREAK OUT and start SINKING! I nearly lopped someone's ear off today, without seeing the situation was still full of grace and redemption. Oh, Peter. 2. I might actually be a grown up. I'm a runner. When things get hard, I run. When … [Read more...]
The Adventure Begins
I've dreamed of building myself a tiny house for three years. I've dreamed of it ever since stumbling upon an article about a woman somewhere in our great Pacific Northwest who built herself a teeny tiny cabin in the woods and lived a relatively sustainable and nearly rent-free existence. (I wish I could remember the name of the woman or the city she lived in. Sadly, I've never found it again.) I tucked the idea away, because I was pretty sure it was NEVER going to happen. If you know … [Read more...]
O, Hope. O, Sisterhood.
Originally posted at SheLoves Magazine. Have you ever met a new person and been alarmed by how kindred they feel even though they are complete strangers? This is the way of so many friendships in SheLoves, so I know somewhere someone is nodding. It’s the way of so many friendships in my world. I might just fall in love with every person I ever meet ever (yes, two evers). I am so quick to share deeply and make connections. Unfortunately, I am also just a wee bit over-enthusiastic and … [Read more...]
To California With Love
I told myself I'd never be the girl who fell in love with California. "How cliché." I told myself that the sunshine and celebrities were over-rated. I told myself I was too much of a progressive hippie to fall for such a superficial place. It turns out I lied. My first visit to California found me in the wrong parts of East L.A. sorting boxes of donated food. I learned three phrases in Spanish, crushed on a kid with a goatee and folded a whole lot of bedsheets. Since that week … [Read more...]
fever dreams. big dreams.
I am 28 years, 2 months and 5 days old. By the time I'm 30 I want to have my memoir in the hands of a publisher (maybe not published, but just with the promise that it's going to happen) and I want to be living in my very own built-with-my-own-hands-drenched-in-my-own-sweat house. I have one year, 9 months and 25 days to figure out how to pull that off. Deep breath. Here's the thing: I have wanted to write a memoir for the past 6 years. I have said I'm starting it for the past 5 … [Read more...]